Small studs’ lucky strike

Market demand and versatility, combined with production benefits like fertility, hardiness and feed conversion rates, often makes Angus the clear choice for people setting up a new beef operation.

That was the case for Mid North Coast couple John and Chrissy Patrick, and south-east Queensland breeders Dean and Heather Powrie.

For both producers it was an obvious next step to develop a seedstock operation to supply bulls specific to the needs of other commercial producers in their regions.

The Patricks run 60 Angus breeders for weaner production at "Huntingdon Park", Wauchope.

It is 40 hectares of mainly river flat country, mostly kikuyu and clover, with some winter ryegrass and oats sown each year.

Mr Patrick grew up in the Central West and moved to the coast for work, but always wanted to retain links with the beef industry.

"Angus, given their market premiums and production benefits, seemed to be the way to go if you are starting from scratch so we purchased two commercial herds out of Wauchope and Dorrigo and selected the best of their breeders," Mr Patrick said.

"When we started to look to improve the herd by selecting high-end stud stock we found Angus studs on the coast were rare.

"There was clearly an opportunity there so we made the decision to move toward stud breeding and the aim is to be entirely in that game within two years.

"There is no better place to see the best the breed has to offer than the Sydney Royal so that's where we've bought for the past six years."

They have taken home a bull and eight females from the sale in the past six years all with Trowbridge, Te Mania or Wilcoola blood.

The females are the foundation for Huntingdon Park Angus stud, with the breeding goals focused on high fertility, good conformation and temperament, and early weight gains - the sort of genetics coastal weaner and vealer producers are chasing.

"We are aiming to establish a good coastal stud so commercial producers here don't have to shop out of the area," Mr Patrick said.

"We want to provide the choice of quality, acclimatised animals, with the risk of losses to disease as a result of bringing in cattle taken out of the equation."

The Patricks plan to run about 50 stud breeders and offer 20 stud bulls a year.

They said the Sydney Royal Angus sale was the perfect opportunity to "see what everybody in the breed was doing and pick from the best on offer".

Likewise, the Powries, who run the 1133ha undulating soft loam and trap rock property, "Sunnyside", at Warwick, Queensland, say the sale had good quality stock and offered the opportunity to learn more about the breed, and they'll be there this year.

The couple generally runs a herd of 200 to 300 Bos indicus breeders which are joined to Angus bulls to turn off crossbred feedlot steers, although stocking is under capacity due to drought.

They set up a small stud, Powrie Angus, to run alongside the commercial operation, primarily to produce quality bulls for their own purposes.

The purchase of three pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers, one with a calf at foot, at last year's Royal Sydney Angus sale provided the foundation females.

The Powries envisage their stud will eventually have 30 to 40 females and will also offer bulls to other commercial breeders, providing an additional income stream.

Stud breeding will be commercially focused with one of the main goals to produce the type of cattle that continue to perform through tougher times and in harder country, Mr Powrie said.

"Because most of the beef producers in this area are supplying feedlot steers, quality Angus genetics are in demand," he said.

Feedlots pay premiums for black cattle based on growth and marbling traits and ability to hit lucrative Japanese markets.

"But there is also the need for cattle to have good doing ability around here," Mr Powrie said.

To that end, they will be breeding cows hardy enough to look after calves and still go back into calf in tougher times and cattle that forage extensively, have good growth rates, and are ideal in crossbreeding programs.